I've been using a smart TV for well over a decade now, and the software has evolved a lot over the years.
Still, with UI redesigns and even additions like Gemini on Google TV, one thing has always stayed the same for me: using the TV remote to control everything.
In my case, that remote belongs to my Chromecast with Google TV, but the experience is largely the same.
It was only recently that I realized I'd been doing this all wrong.
Google already offers a simple and surprisingly good way to control your smart TV directly from your Android phone.
After using it for a while, it finally convinced me to put my TV remote down for good. Honestly, you probably should too.
Even modern TV remotes still feel frustrating to use
Too many buttons and slow input make simple actions annoying
While brands like Samsung and TCL have upgraded their smart TV remotes with more features like voice typing, shortcut keys for OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and even solar or USB-C charging to get rid of the anxiety of changing the cells, using a physical remote to control a smart TV still feels limiting.
The UI just isn't fast or intuitive to navigate with a remote. Scrolling through menus takes longer than it should, and typing anything into search bars on apps like YouTube or Netflix is a painfully slow experience.
I've seen my parents struggle with this more times than I can count, and I don't blame them.
Sure, features like HDMI CEC let you control multiple devices with a single remote, but the experience is still far from seamless.
It can glitch, stop responding, or randomly break, forcing you to dig out another remote just to get things working again. It works, but it's far from ideal.
Using your phone as a TV remote actually works better
Touch controls and typing make navigation faster and easier
Thankfully, Google offers an easy way to control your smart TV directly from your smartphone.
The Google TV app on the Play Store lets you use your phone as a full-fledged remote, and the best part is that it isn't brand-dependent.
As long as your TV runs Android TV or Google TV, this works across the board.
To get started, install the Google TV app from the Play Store and open it. Make sure both your Android phone and your smart TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
If prompted, sign in with the same Google account used on your TV, and allow the app to find devices on your local network.
After that's done, the Google TV app should automatically detect your smart TV.
Tap the TVs nearby button at the lower-right corner, select your TV from the list, and enter the pairing code shown on your screen.
When paired, tap the remote icon in the same bottom bar, and you'll get a full remote-style layout right on your phone.
You can switch between different control types, like swipe controls and a traditional D-pad.
When you need to type, you can use your phone's keyboard directly. This makes searching for content on apps like YouTube and Netflix infinitely easier.
You can also control the volume and access Google Gemini from the app. It feels like a smarter version of a physical remote, but with better accessibility and a better typing experience.
Ever since I switched to this a few months ago, I've barely touched my TV remote. It's also a lifesaver for those moments when the remote is nowhere to be found, and you want to play something quickly.
And it's not only Google. Most brands like LG, Amazon, Sony, and even Roku offer their own apps to control smart TVs from your phone.
You can even control an Apple TV using an Android phone if you have the right app installed.
It might finally be time to switch to your phone instead
You already have your phone with you all the time, and you're probably casting stuff from it to your smart TV pretty often. This app bridges that missing gap of having a proper smart remote.
Sure, it can bug out occasionally, but it's still the easiest and most convenient way I've found to control my TV without reaching for the physical remote.
If your smart TV feels slow or laggy while using the remote, the problem might not be the remote. It could be your TV struggling on its own. In that case, it's worth checking out a few simple tips to make your smart TV load and run faster.